Prime Minister Binali Yildirim made the statement after tanks were spotted shutting down portions of the Bosphorus and Fatih bridges in Istanbul and military jets were seen flying low over residential areas in Ankara.

Update, 4:36 p.m. EST: Turkey Blocks, which tracks government censorship efforts within the country, reported that Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube were blocked in the country at 10:50 p.m. local time.

Update, 4:53 p.m. EST:AFP reported that, according to state media, the country’s top general is being “held hostage” at the military’s headquarters.

Update, 4:59 p.m. EST: US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a press conference that he did not “have any details” regarding the reputed coup in Turkey.

“I hope there will be stability and peace and continuity within Turkey,” he said. “But I have nothing to add with regards to what has transpired at this moment.”

Update, 5:11 p.m.: Sky News reported that, according to a military statement read on state television, a “peace council” is now in control, and has criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration for “eroding” secular government.

Update, 5:39 p.m. EST:AFP reported that Erdogan has asked supporters to defy a military-imposed curfew and take to the streets. According to a Sky News live report from Ankara’s central square, about 30 to 40 people had followed the request.

Update, 6:08 p.m. EST: Sky News posted video of a tank swerving to avoid protesters holding the country’s flag on a bridge, which can be seen below.

Update, 7:19 p.m. EST:The AP reported that 17 officers were killed in a helicopter attack on police special force headquarters in Ankara.

Update, 7:39 p.m. EST:AFP confirmed that the military has opened fire on crowds of people gathering in Istanbul amid the coup.

Update, 7:44 p.m. EST: Journalist Mehmet Solnaz posted footage of soldiers supporting the coup eing pushed out of an administrative building in the Sakarya Governorate by residents. At one point, one of the residents shakes hands with a soldier, as seen here.

Pro-coup troops taken out of Sakarya Governorate by the people of the city pic.twitter.com/Ngj22sV6on -Similar videos shared from across Turkey

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt